United Ireland

A United Ireland is the common demand of Irish nationalists, envisaging that the island of Ireland (currently divided into the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland) be reunited as a single political entity. Nationalists have suggested many different models for unification, including federalism, and joint sovereignty, as well as a unitary state.

Present day

The leading political parties in the Republic of Ireland, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, as well as the SDLP in Northern Ireland have often made a united Ireland a part of their political message, although they rarely spell out how they see it coming about. It is, however, the main focus of Sinn Féin, by far the largest party to contest elections on both sides of the border.

Related Topics:
Fianna Fáil - Fine Gael - SDLP - Sinn Féin

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In contrast, the Unionist community – composed primarily of Protestants in the six counties that form Northern Ireland – opposes unification. All of the island's political parties (except for tiny fringe groups with no electoral representation) have accepted the principle of consent, which states that Northern Ireland's constitutional status cannot change without majority support in Northern Ireland.

Related Topics:
Unionist - Protestant - Northern Ireland - Principle of consent

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Many Protestants (and some Catholics) in Northern Ireland argue they have a distinct identity that would be overwhelmed in a united Ireland. They cite the decline of the small Protestant population of the Republic of Ireland since secession from the United Kingdom, the United Kingdom's stronger international position and their mainly non-Irish ancestry.

Related Topics:
Protestant - Catholic

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A possible referendum on a united Ireland was included as part of the terms of the Good Friday Agreement. Currently about 40% of the Northern Ireland electorate vote for Irish nationalist parties that oppose the union with Britain and support a united Ireland as an alternative, although as many people vote along religious lines it is difficult to take this figure as a direct indication of levels of support for a united Ireland. A 2004 survey shows support for a united Ireland at 22% of Northern Ireland's population. Strangely, the same survey shows support for full independence at 11%, while the Ulster Third Way party (the only party that supports independence) receives less than a tenth of 1% of votes. It is important to take into account the fact that public opinion polls can be very inaccurate at times, these results do not mean that the people of Northern Ireland would not necassarily choose unification within a few decades; in the event that the Good Friday Agreement is successful and implemented.

Related Topics:
Good Friday Agreement - Britain - Ulster Third Way

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